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Feasibility of Using Child Maltreatment Measurement Instruments in the Primary Care Setting: A Systematic Review
1Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey, PA, United States.
Insights
Primary care providers (PCPs) can now identify child maltreatment with recommended measurement instruments. This review evaluated tools for feasibility and psychometric quality, aiding in early detection and intervention for at-risk children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Practice
Background:
- Child maltreatment is a significant public health issue in the U.S., affecting millions of children annually.
- Primary care providers (PCPs) are uniquely positioned to identify victims but often lack adequate resources.
- Effective screening tools are crucial for early recognition and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and evaluate child maltreatment measurement instruments.
- To determine the feasibility of using these instruments in U.S. primary care settings.
- To recommend validated instruments for PCP use.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases (2014-2020).
- Eligibility criteria included U.S. studies, child maltreatment instruments, and subjects under 18.
- Sixteen identified instruments were assessed for feasibility based on psychometrics, administration, availability, and cost.
Main Results:
- Out of 3816 articles, 111 utilized child maltreatment measurement instruments.
- Six specific instruments were recommended for use by PCPs based on rigorous evaluation.
- The review highlights the importance of combining psychometric properties with practical feasibility criteria.
Conclusions:
- This is the first review to specifically assess child maltreatment measurement instruments for PCP use.
- Recommended instruments can aid PCPs in identifying children and families at risk or experiencing maltreatment.
- Implementation of these tools can improve early detection and support for affected children.
Problem:
Child maltreatment is a devastating epidemic affecting millions of children and adolescents in the United States (U.S.) every year. Primary care providers (PCPs) encounter these victims but need resources to aid in the recognition of maltreatment. The purpose of this review is to evaluate child maltreatment measurement instruments and determine feasibility of use by U.S. PCPs.
Eligibility Criteria:
A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases from 2014 until 2020. Eligibility criteria included articles conducted in the U.S., with use of a child maltreatment measurement instrument, and subjects less than 18 years old. Eligible articles were reference searched to find the original studies for each instrument and were included if they were published in a peer-reviewed paper, could be located, and addressed the development or validation of the instrument.
Sample:
Of the 3816 articles, 111 used a child maltreatment measurement instrument. Sixteen of the 27 identified instruments were evaluated for feasibility using a quality rating with criteria including psychometrics, construct measurement, administration, availability, and cost.
Results:
Six instruments were recommended for use by PCPs.
Conclusions:
This is the first review evaluating the use of child maltreatment measurement instruments by PCPs and it highlights the combination of psychometric evaluation and other pertinent feasibility criteria to recommend several instruments for use by PCPs.
Implications:
Use of these instruments by PCPs may serve to identify children and families who are at risk for or suffering from maltreatment.
